Winter has arrived on the farm. We had a quiet Thanksgiving and did as little work as we could. Our focus was mainly on getting all water pipes and pumps winterized so they would not freeze. It did get cold one morning; down to 18 degrees. That was enough to kill off the summer flowers in the garden.

Fence work continues and we are in the final stretch. The cold rainy days have made it more difficult. We spent most of the week working on a wash-out at Rocky Branch. A small spring branch that runs a trickle normally, from a spring, turns into a 4-5 ft wall of water in rains. Everything we have build has been washed away. Once again we are taking this on in a temporary fashion as we look for a permanent fix (low cost one). If only we had some stimulus funds.

The cattle are eating lots of hay and getting some alfalfa. The bulls get a regular ration of alfalfa as we get them ready for breeding season. We still have baby calves at the barn near the house to entertain cabin quests, but I think we shall soon send them to Rocky Branch. It is time they join the other boys and girls.

Other than that dang coyote killing a heifer calf,not much really exciting has happened. When you lose a heifer it is a terrible financial loss. Heifers are valuable as breeding stock or as a calf factory if retained for 12-15 years.

Some months ago there was an article in the Dallas Morning News that mentioned me running my snares on the fence line at Rocky Branch to catch coyotes. A few, not many, sent me emails taking issue that a coyote would harm a calf. Sunday a week ago I was out in the morning checking the cattle and saw a large coyote running at full speed across the meadow headed to the outside fence. I got off one shot with a 22 rifle, but the range was too far to be accurate.

When I got to the hay rings where we feed hay there lay a calf born in the night half eaten. There was little hay in the rings, so the cattle herd had gone far away to eat pasture grass. The cow that had the calf was a first time heifer and apparently was not able to defend her calf. It was a very sad sight and I picked up the baby and took it to the truck to dispose of it. The mama cow followed and called for the calf, licking it as we walked. Some days are really hard on the farm.

Later that evening, Javier had a deer rifle with him and killed the coyote that had returned to eat more of the calf. The circle of life and death continues on the farm.

If anyone does not believe me, send an email and you can have color photos of the calf. It is not a pretty sight.